- Containing
- Contain Con*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Contained}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Containing}.] [OE. contenen, conteinen, F. contenir,
fr. L. continere, -tentum; con- + tenere to hold. See
{Tenable}, and cf. {Countenance}.]
1. To hold within fixed limits; to comprise; to include; to
inclose; to hold.
[1913 Webster]
Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much less this house! --2 Chron. vi. 18. [1913 Webster]
When that this body did contain a spirit. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
What thy stores contain bring forth. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
2. To have capacity for; to be able to hold; to hold; to be equivalent to; as, a bushel contains four pecks. [1913 Webster]
3. To put constraint upon; to restrain; to confine; to keep within bounds. [Obs., exept as used reflexively.] [1913 Webster]
The king's person contains the unruly people from evil occasions. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]
Fear not, my lord: we can contain ourselves. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.
